Boot and shoe tree leg.



No. 843,673. PATENTED FEB. 1 1907. G. E. FINQUIST. BOOT AND SHOE TREELEG;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. E.. FINQUIST.

PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

BOOT AND SHOE TREE LEG.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 843,673. PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907-.

' G. E. PINQUIST.

BOOT AND SHOE TREE LEG.

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GUSTAF E. FIN QUIST, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEGOLBERT LAST COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPO- RATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT AND SHOE TREE LEG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed May 23, 1906. Serial No. 318,862.

.1"0 i/ iwm it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GUsTAF E. FINQUIST, l a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at W'orcester, in the county of lVorcester and l Stateof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Boot and Shoe Tree Leg,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in boot and shoe tree legs,the principal objects being to provide means whereby a single back orheel may be employed for all the sizes and half-sizes of any particularkind of boots or shoesas, for example, mens shoes; also, the provisionof means whereby a metallic heel may be substituted for the wooden heelor back heretofore employed to provide for securing the toe part of thelast to the tree-leg in an improved manner and to provide properadjustments for the several parts. 7

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate apreferred embodiment of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a frame carrying one of my improved tree-legs thereon. Fig.2 is a perspective view showing two adjusting elements. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken at the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is aside elevation of the tree-leg, partly broken away to show interiorconstruction. Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the tree-leg with thewooden toe-last removed. Fig. 6 is an end view of the last. Fig. 7 is afront elevation of the tree-leg, showing expanded position by dottedlines. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view though a portion of thetree-leg on an enlarged scale. Fig. 9 is a bottom plan of the upper partof the tree-leg. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the back or heelportion, parts appearing in longitudinal section and Fig. 11 is a planof the same.

It is ordinarily necessary to use several sized backs for the differentsizes of lasts of any particular character-as, for example, lasts formens shoes, which are numbered from 5 to 11 with half-sizes. The backsare also made of wood at the present time and are liable to get broken.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide means whereby a singlemetallic back can be substituted for the plurality of wooden backs nowused for any ordinary series of shoes or boots-as, for example, thosementioned above. In order to do this, the metallio back is slit, so thatit can be expanded, and at the same time is provided with means forforcing it away from the toe portion of the last. I have also providedan adjusting collar adapted to provide for securing the necessary numberof changes in size Without making it necessary to replace the back orheel portion.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear below.

In the drawings I have shown the usual frame 10, provided with a treadle11, adapted to engage under a tooth or latch 12 to hold it in itslowermost position. Connecting with the treadle is a link 13 foroperating a bellcrank 14. This bell-crank is pivoted on a stand 15,which supports the main part of the tree-leg. A spring 16 normally holdsthe treadle and link up and the last in contracted position. Thebell-crank is provided with a head 17, as usual, which engages betweenthe two flanges of a collar 18. This collar is operated by the treadlein an obvious manner and has a projection 19, adapted to bear upon anadj Listing-collar 20, which in turn bears on a head 21. This head ismounted on a rod 22 and is held thereon by a nut 23 and a pin 24, thepin passing through a flaring slot 250 in the end of the head 21. Thishead is provided with a shoulder adapted to engage one of three or moreprojections 26, 27, and 28 on the collar 20. This collar is rotatablynounted on the shaft 22, and therefore any one of the projections uponit can be placed in engagement with the shoulder 25, or, if desired, thenotches between the projections can be placed in engagement with theshoulder.

Connected with the projection 19, which is screw-threaded, is a sleeve29. The sleeve surrounds the rod 22, and it will be obvious that therelative position of the sleeve and rod will be regulated by the angularlocation of the collar 20. hen the shortest projection 28 of this collaris in contact with the shoulder 25, the sleeve 29 can be moved backtoward the end of the rod a greater distance before moving the rod thanwould be the case if the projection 26 were in engagement with theshoulder 25. Consequently" it will be seen that by this adjustment themovements of the rod and sleeve will be regulated with lower surface ofthe main bor y of the tree and to operate a backpiece 33 thereon. Thisbackpiece consists of a piece of metal of comparatively thincross-section and having a slit 34 extending from its end inwardly. Thisbackpiece is provided with a slot 35 near one end thereof, through whichpasses a pin 36, mounted in stationary position on the tree.

A spring 37, adjusted by a screw 38, normally holds the back in closedposition i in proper position.

The back, are operated by the plunger 330 in a manner against the otherpart of the tree. however, is provided. with ways 39, slanting outwardlyfrom a point within the back and in which a pair of projections 40 onthe stretch-off are adapted to operate. These projections slide alongthe wafs 39, and obviously when the sleeve 29 is pulled to the left theprojections 40 bear on the ways in such a manner as to force thebackpiece outwardly from the main body of the tree and expand the lastin one direction. Usually at the same time or at another time regulatedby the position of the collar 20 the wedgeshaped plunger 330 engagessurfaces 41 of a shape similar to that of the wedge on the upper side ofthe back portion of the last. As this plunger is forced to the left bythe rod 22 in a manner described above the two sides of the back areforced from each other and adjustment thus secured. The degree to whichthis operation will take place will of course be regulated by theposition of the collar 20.

The parts that I have so far described relate chiefly to the back of thetree. I will now describe the manner in which the last proper or toepart is mounted upon the tree. The tree is provided with T-shaped ways42. These ways slant upwardly, as is indicated in Fig. 8, to receive aguide shown as a T- J shaped iron 43, which is secured to the toe partof the last. This iron is adapted to slide up the ways and is providedwith a notch 44, adapted to be engaged by a pivoted hook 45, the rearend of which is in such a position as to be forced into lockingcondition by the rear wall of the stretch-oft 81 when the latter ismanipulated to expand the back. Movable lasts have heretofore beenemployed in connection with wooden heels;

k l i l l l l which passes through the 1 proper sleeve, is connectedwith a plunger or cam 330, i the notch but the manner in which they arefastened in position is clumsy and objectionable in cer tain ways.Therefore in addition to the hook which I have described I have providedone of the usual expansible side pieces 46 with pin 47 extendinginwardly into the ways 42. The T-iron 43' is provided with a notch 48,in which this pin is adapted to operate. When the parts are placed inposition for operation, the pin enters 48 and cannot be removed thereifrom until the back is allowed to contract,

while the sides still remain expanded sufiiciently to keep the pinwithdrawn, thus permitting the last to be removed. On account of theprior movement of the stretch-off 31 to contract the back, the parts areat this time in such a position that the weight of the rear end of thehook will lift it out of engagement with the notch 44 and leave it inunlocked position. It will be noted that the tree is provided with aprojection 49, extending between two lips of the expansible sides 46. This is guide for retaining these parts The expansible sides 46 exactlysimilar to that in which the back is expanded laterally. I have shownthe usual metallic guard 50 along the side of the tree. It will be seenthat with a construction of this character, including the features ofthe invention as expressed in the claims, a much more efficient tree-legis provided than has heretofore been the case. Considering its use, forexample, with mens shoes, all the sizes and half-sizes from 5 to 11 canbe treed with the use of the three adjustments in the same back, thewooden toe-lasts being changed in accordance with the different sizesoperated upon and this change being of such simplicity that it is matterthat requires a minimum of time. Furthermore, the backs being made ofmetal are not subject to the breakage present encountered with wooden.backs.

By the use of the simple adjusting device which I have indicated allnecessary adjustments are procured with accuracy and without taking themachine to pieces in order to change the size.

While I have illustrated and described a particular form in which myinvention may conveniently be embodied, I am aware that manymodifications may be made in the same by any person skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in theclaims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact constructionshown; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A boot and shoe tree leg having undercut ways and a movable sidesection, a last provided with a T-iron adapted to enter said ways, and apin on said side section projectseams ing into said ways, said T-ironhaving a cut- I away portion to receive said pin.

2. A boot and shoe tree leg h ving ways, a l last provided with aT-shaped projection or l entering said ways, an expansible side, and a 1pin carried by said expansible side and adapted to project into saidways, the T- j shaped projection being provided with a notch lorreceiving said pin. 1 3. The combination or a boot and shoe tree l leghaving ways, and a movable section with l a last provided with a guidefor said ways, j the guide having a notch, means for securing the guidein stationary position on the ways, 1 and a pin on the movable sectionor entering the notch and for preventing the removal of l the last. j 4.The combination of a boot and shoe tree leg having ways, with a lastprovided with a guide l or said ways, the guide having a notch, a pin onthe tree-leg for entering the notch and preventing the removal of thelast, an j expansible heel portion on the tree-leg, means i or expandingthe heel portion, and means j operable by the expanding means forlocking the guide on the ways. j 5. The combination of a boot and shoetree leg having ways, a last provided with a guide For said ways, saidtree-leg having an ex pansible heel portion, means for expanding theheel portion, and means operable by the expanding means for locking theguide on the l ways. 1 6. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combil nationof a laterally-expansible back or heel portion, a replaceable toe orlast, means for expanding the back or heel portion, and means operableby said expanding means i'or locking the toe or last on the back or heelportion.

7. In a boot and shoe tree leg the combination of an expansible,resilient, split metal means for expanding the back or heel portion, andmeans operable by the expanding means for locking the last on the backor heel por A. tion.

8. A tree-back split to lorm two integral resilient side sections.

ally expansible and rearwardly movable back portion or heel.

10. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combi nation with a movable splitback of resilient material, means lor expanding the back, and means formoving the back rearwardly.

11. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combination with a movable splitback of resilient j material, means for expanding the back, and

l l l 1 I 9. A boot and shoe tree leg having a latermeans for moving theback rearwardly, a lever for operating both of said means, and meansconnected with the lever for adjusting the back expanding means andmoving means. 1 12. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combi- I back orheel portion, a replaceable lash l nation of a back portion of resilientmetal, the end of said back portion being slit, means for forcing theslit portions away from each other, means for forcing the said backportion away from the main part of the tree, a sleeve constituting aportion of one of said means, and a rod passing through the sleeve andconstituting a portion of the other of said means.

13. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combination of a back portion 01""resilient metal, the end of said back portion being slit, means forforcing the slit portions away from each other, means for forcing thesaid back portion away from the main part of the tree, a sleeveconstituting a portion of one of said means, and a rod passing throughthe sleeve and constituting a portion of the other of said means, alever directly connected with said sleeve, and an adjusting elementadapted to engage said rod and to be engaged by an element connectedwith the lever.

14. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combination of a back formed ofresilient material and slit at the end, a sleeve, a rod passing throughsaid sleeve, means connected with said sleeve for forcing said backtoward and from the last, means connected with said rod for expandingthe back, means for moving said sleeve, and means for transmittingmotion from the sleeve to the rod, said lastnamed means beingadjustable.

15. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combi nation of a movableexpansible element, a sleeve for moving said element, a rod for expanding said element, means for moving said sleeve, and a connectionbetween the sleeve and rod comprising a head having a shoulder, and arotatablymounted collar having projections of difl'erent lengths adaptedto engage said shoulder thereby holding the head at adjusted distancesfrom the sleeve.

16. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combination of a movable expansible back a pair of relatively movable elements, one of said elementshaving means for moving the back, and the other having means forexpanding the back, means for moving one of said elements, a headconnected with the other element and having a shoulder, and a collarhaving projections of di'lIerent lengths for engaging said shoulder,said collar being located in contact with the other of said elements.

17. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combination of a movable expansibleback, a treadle, a bellcrank operable thereby, a collar connected withthe bell-crank, a sleeve to which the collar is secured, a rod passingthrough said sleeve and having a shoulder projecting therefrom, saidsleeve and rod having means for operating said back, and a second collarhaving projections of diflerent lengths adapted to engage said shoulder,the opposite end of the second collar being located in position to beengaged by the first collar whereby the distance traveled by the sleeveand collar upon the depression of the treadle may be adjusted. I

18. In a boot and shoe tree leg, the combination of a pair ofreciprocable elements, means for adjusting the location of said elementswith respect to each other, means for moving one of said elements intoengagement with the other, a split metal back, a pin connected with thetree upon which said back is pivoted, resilient means for holding saidback in a certain position, and connections between one of said elementsand the back for-moving the back out of said position.

, pro ecting from said back, and an adjustable screw bearing on saidspring for normally 2o holdlng the back 111 contracted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

GUSTAF E. FINQUIST. l/Vitnesses ALBERT E. FAY, LoUIs W. SOUTHGATE.

